Cheese Grater Buying Guide: Selecting The Perfect Grater

If you're looking to buy a cheese grater, you'll want to consider what types of cheese you plan to grate, how often you'll use it, and how much effort you're willing to put in. There are several types of cheese graters available, including box graters, rotary graters, and electric graters, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Box graters are the most common and versatile type, offering multiple grating options, but they can be difficult to clean and may not be the best choice for soft cheeses. Rotary graters are good for hard cheeses and can be easier to use, but they have limited capacity. Electric graters are a great option if you need to grate large quantities of cheese, but they can be noisy and may not be worth the investment if you only need to grate small amounts. Ultimately, the best cheese grater for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Rotary graters

When choosing a rotary grater, look for one with a strong suction base, as this will stabilize the grater and make it easier to apply pressure when pushing the cheese through. The Susteas Rotary Cheese Grater, for example, has a suction-cup base that keeps it firmly stuck to the counter. It comes with several blade panels that can be easily swapped out depending on the type of grate you want, as well as a case to keep them organized. It is also dishwasher-safe, making cleaning a breeze.

Another option is the GDL Rotary Cheese Grater, which has three drum blades for slicing, shredding, and fine shredding. It is made of food-grade material, BPA-free, and is easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning.

If you're looking for a more compact option, the Boska Professional Series Ribbon Grater is a great choice. It's designed to be run over the cheese, making it easier and safer for your fingers. It's also small enough to fit in your silverware drawer and is dishwasher-safe. However, it may not be suitable for grating large quantities of cheese.

Box graters

The Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater is a popular choice for a box grater. It has a no-skid base and is super sharp. It also has measurements on it to help you see how much you have grated. It did an excellent job grating parmesan cheese and would be a wonderful option for any hard cheese. It also performed well when shredding softer Colby cheese, while the slicing blade created thin slices of carrots and zucchini. The rounded, slightly padded handle was comfortable to hold. Inside the base, there's a grater for ginger, which works amazingly well and will save you time over mincing. The Cuisipro is dishwasher-safe, but to preserve its sharp edges, hand-washing is recommended.

Another option is the Spring Chef Professional Box Grater. This is a classic box grater with the standard coarse, medium, fine, and slicing blades on its four sides. The rounded shape and flared bottom give you extra surface area and more room to hold shreds. The handle is comfortable to hold, and the rubber base keeps the grater solid and stable on the counter or cutting board. The base piece comes off for cleaning so no food can get stuck inside. It works best with the coarse blade, which shreds through soft and hard cheeses.

The OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater with Removable Zester is another sturdy, all-purpose box grater. It has an ergonomic handle, a modern design, and comes with a 1-cup capacity storage container with a lid that fits snugly onto the base of the grater so you can collect your ingredients and store them without a fuss. If you choose not to use the container, the base is sturdy and has a rubberised non-skid grip. It is also dishwasher-safe.

Finally, the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater is the ultimate cheese grater, with razor-sharp blades on all four sides and a variety of useful design features. It's easy to use; you just need to lightly swipe cheeses across its blades to get piles of uniform shreds, even with soft mozzarella. The medium grater works in both directions, which makes shredding large amounts much easier. It can also be used to make curls of chocolate or long ribbons of carrot, potato, and radish. The fine side features the same blades as Microplane's rasp-style zester, so it'll zest citrus fruits effortlessly, and you can even use it to grate fresh garlic or ginger. The fourth side is a single slicing blade that works like a mandoline and can be removed for easy cleaning. It has a unique look and is comfortable to use, with rubber feet and a rounded handle. It is also dishwasher-safe.

Electric graters

When choosing an electric grater, it is important to consider the power capacity of the motor, the durability of the materials used, and the ease of cleaning. Some electric graters can be cleaned in a dishwasher, while others may need to be hand-washed.

• Fama Professional Italian Electric 1 hp Cheese Grater: This deli-style grater is designed to grate hard cheeses and bread crumbs. It can be used for both home and commercial purposes and has a power capacity of 1 hp.
• Omra Electric Light Duty Cheese Grater: This medium-duty electric cheese grater is great for grating hard cheeses and bread crumbs. It is made in Italy and is available at a discounted price.
• ASLATT Electric Cheese Grater: This electric cheese grater comes with five attachments and can be used for grating cheese, shredding vegetables, and making salads. It has a power rating of 120V and is available on Amazon.
• EYAS LAN Cheese Grater Electric: This 5-in-1 electric cheese grater has a power rating of 250W and can be used for grating cheese, spiralizing vegetables, and slicing. It is easy to use and features a push-button mechanism.
• Homdox Electric Cheese Grater: This compact electric grater comes with five different blades for various uses, such as coarse grating, fine grating, thick slicing, thin slicing, and grinding. It features a one-touch control panel and a sleek design.
• FOHERE Electric Cheese Grater Shredder: This electric cheese grater has a one-touch control and is easy to use. It comes with a push bar that keeps hands away from the blade, ensuring safety. It can be used for grating cheese, vegetables, and nuts.
• Presto Salad Shooter Electric Slicer/Shredder: This electric grater comes with interchangeable slicing and shredding cones, making it versatile and efficient. While it is on the louder side, it is still a good option for grating both soft and hard cheeses.

Rasp graters

The best rasp graters have teeth that are large and high enough to zest and grate with ease, but not so raised that they dig into the white pith of citrus or require a lot of force when grating or zesting. A good rasp grater should be comfortable to hold, with our favourite model, the Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater, featuring a soft, non-slip grip to minimise hand fatigue. The rasp's end also has two small rubber feet, which add stability when used at an angle on a surface like a cutting board.

If you're looking for a rasp grater that's easy to clean, we recommend the Microplane Classic Series Stainless Steel Zester. This grater has a larger, flat surface area that makes it simple to balance on a bowl and grate larger pieces. Its lower-profile walls make it easy to collect zest and to clean. However, it doesn't have a handle, so its metal edge can dig into hands after extended use.

Flat graters

Rasp graters are ideal for small amounts of cheese, such as when you want to sprinkle some Parmesan on your pasta. They are also good for zesting citrus fruits, grating spices, and shredding small amounts of chocolate. However, they can be unwieldy and even dangerous when used for larger quantities of cheese or other soft foods.

When shopping for a flat grater, look for one with a comfortable handle that gives you a good grip. A rubberized handle will make the grater more efficient, although a metal handle will still get the job done. Some flat graters come with a guard to protect your fingers from the sharp blades. You may also want to look for a model that includes a storage container, so you can catch and store your grated cheese without making a mess.

Frequently asked questions